Annealing-furnace.



A. L. STEVEN S.. ANNEALING FURN''E'.

APPucATloN HLED sEPT. 10. 1912.

1,219,499. mma mr. 20, 1917.

8 suEETs-suszr 1.

A.L.s`TEvENs.

ANNEALING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. IO. l9l2.

1,21 9,499 Pand Mar. 20, 1917.

6 SflEETS-SHEET 2- I fly Z,

A. L. STEVENS.

ANNEALING FURNACE.

APPLICATIONILED SEPT. 10| 1912.

1,21 9,499. 9 Patnted Mar. 20, 1917.

l6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- A. L. STEVENS.

' ANNEALING FURNACE.

APPLICATION HLED sEPT. 10. 1912.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

A. L. STEVENS.

ANNEA'LING FURNACE.

APPLICATION HLED sEPT. 10. 1912.

1,219,4=99B Patend Mar. 20, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

A. L. STEVENS.

ANNEALING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10| 1912.

1,21 9,499. Pamed Mar. 20, 1917.

6 SHETS-SHEET 6- ARTHUR STEVENS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ANNEALING-FURNACE.

Specificaton of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed Mar. 20, 1917.

Application filed September 10, 1912. 'Serial No. 719,527.

To ((ZZ '07mm t may concern;

le it known that l. .\n'ruUR L. STEvENs, a citizen of the l'nited States, residing at Chicago. in the countv of (`ook and State of Illinois. have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Annealing-Furnaces, of which the following' is a specification.

The invention relates to regenerative furnaces and particularly to annealing furnaees of the regenerative type, and it consists in certain novel arrangementsand devices in furnace construction constituting improveinents in certain respects, to be hereinafter more full v descrihed.V upon known furnaces of this character.

One of the objects of the invention has heen to provide a regenerative furnace, for annealing or other similar purposes which can he built entirel'v or very largely above .the ground. Furnaces of this sortusually have their rcgenerators located under the heating' ehamherwhich necessitates considerahle excavation in case the heating chamher is on the ground level. If the furnace is erected on low ground or near the valve level. this necessitates expensiv'e waterproofing. The invention has for a further object. to provide an annealing furnace in 'which the combustion takes place above the articles treated so that the flames do not impinge directly thereupon.

further object is to provide. in a furnace for annealing or like purposes, the hearth of which is removahle and lsupported on a truck or the like. certain constructions and arrangements wherehy the truck isborne directly on a foundation so that it does not subject the furnace structure to anystresses.

The invention has for a further object to provide an annealing furnace of novel and improved construction which will be economical in fuel. compact in structure7 effective in its'operation and which in particular is so constructed and designed as to impart a uniforin temperature to all of the articles treated.

The invention has for` a further object to provide certain novel arrangements for reversing the drafts through the regenerators and annealing chamber which are improvelnnts upon known furnaces in respect particularly to economy of construction and simplicity of operation.

The invention has fo a further object to provide a regenerat-ive furnace having the improved features and consisting of the arro'ws z il `ig. 2-3 looking' in the direction'onovel combinations, arrangements and devices shown in the drawings hereto annexed and which will he hereinafter more particularlv deseribed and elaimed.v

The invention is illustratecl in a preferred embodiment in the aceompanying dra-wings, whereinv Figure 1 is an end elevation of v`the furnace; i

Fig. 2, a longitudinal. sectional view taken on the line '2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the (lirection of the arrows;

Via. 3. a sectional plan ltaken on line 3-3 of Fig.

Fig'. Jr. a sectional plan taken on line Ll-l of Fig. 5:

Fig. 5. a cross-seetional view taken on line of Fig. 3 l'.king in the direction of the arrows p Fig. (S; an enlargz'ed detail view illustrating nient of the burners:

Fig. 7. a sectional vlew tal en'on :l1ne 7-7 of Fiz'. 8 looklng 1n the direction 'o' Fig. 8. a sectional view on li rows: Fig. 9, a similar view taken on line 9-9'Iof Fig. S:

Fig'. 10. a detail section illustratmg a modified form of burner adapted for consuming' gas instead of oil. the section being taken on line` 10-10 of Fig. 11 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fiz. 11 is a similar view taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several figures of the dra-wings.

The furnace is made of the usual briek work walls and roof reinforc/ed by a structural f'ame 23. It is built upon a suitable foundation such as the concrete base 26 shown in the drawings. The front end of the furnace is open in order to admit a truck 27 which runs upon the, rails 28 and is provided with a platform 29 formed of firei particularly the construction andfarrange'- f them brick or the like on which the articles to be ti'eated are placed ;md which constitutes the.: I' I The truck and its 1.

hearth of the furnace. load are borne directly by the foundation, the furnace structure being subjected to no a filled with sand into whicli project fl'anges 40 depending from the 'platform 29 of the truck.

The lower portions of the side walls 41 of the furnace are formed with recesses 42' vaiid the walls a'bove. these recesses are divided so as' to provide walls 43, 43'.`` The vspaces between'the bridge walls :andthe side walls of the ;heat'ing.chambef-constitiite flues or combustionl chambers'44,v44'f having c openings '45 at the bottom acon'iiiiunicazting'l with the recesses 42. VInthese recesses are located the oilburners-` 46, oil 'being con-' ducted to the burnersthrough pipes 47 and air or dry steam throughpipes 48.

The regenerators 49, 49', 'filled of the furnaceopjposite the door 30. Ex-

tending benefatli` the: furnace 'I through` ,the

concrete base1.2 6arevtheflues 50,550' leading. from v'the 'i-'egenerators 49', 49', respective-ly. The` flues 'communicate jw'ith vthe combustion Vcharnbers 44, 44' I leading into the lieating chainberbymeans of distributing fiues- 51:,these latter fiues converging in. 'paii's 'above ;the openings under which' a are located'thef burners 46.1. '1.p'Fire-brick zdaniperse guidedin suitable slots in the brick workuare slidable vback and-forth Vso as .to control the amount 'of air admitted to tlie heating'chamber through the several' fines 51.' proper adjustnient of these. dampers distributes the air lengthwise of the .fur nace and prevents short-oii'cuiting through one-end of the heating Chamber. Thebridge vwalls 43, 43' are preferably v`fornied with openings 53 at ubstantially a thelevel Aoffthe top of the truck.

Arra'nged on the brick work directlyabove"the-:regenerators 49, 49' is a valve casing' 54with which the regenerators are.

in coi'iimii'nication' through openings 55, 55'

`Tlie valve'cas'ing is open' atboth ends and supportsVV at. the -mi'ddle la smoke stack 56. Exteiiding'longit'udinally through casing 54 is a'rod 57 'which is longer than the casing and is provided at opposite ends with .the valves 58` 58' and at themiddle with'a Valve 59. lVith the valves in the position shown in F ig. 9 fresh air may enter the regenerator 49' through the opening 55'. Theother end of the casing is closed by valve 58. Valve 59 stands at a .position between' the stack and opening 55' and closes communication between the regenerator 49' andthe stack i'egenerator 49 and the stack.

. 'with the! 'usual Checker` work,j a1r e l'ocatedatthe end' while opening the communication between The valves 58s, 58' 59 and rod 57 are slidable back and forth'through the casiiig 54. When nioved to the position at the extreme right from that .shown in Fig. 9, regenerator 49 is opened to the atmosphere and the fresh air intake of regenerator 49' closed and this regenerator put into communication witli the stack. The rod 57 and its valves inay be inoved by any suitable means. I' have sliown cables 60 attaclied to the valves 58, 58' and passin'g over sheaves 61. The reversing valve mechanism above described is not claiined per se hei'ein asit forms the subject-mattei' of an application, Serial No.

719528, filed by me on September 10, 1912. Gas burners may be used instead of the v,oil burners 46. Figs.l 10 and 11 show certain niodifications which -are necessary gif gas is to bev burned instead of oil. 62 designates the 'gas Vmain and `63 brancli pipes leading .into the chainbers 'or spaces 64 under the fiue or :ombustion chainber 44 or 44', as the case may be.` The spaces 64'a1'e closed up in front by brick work 64a. 'A baflle brick 65 'extends over the opening 66 by which the gas enters the fiue..,44,the brick 65 resting upon thetransversely' placed bricks or blocks 67 whichja're spaced apart as showii 'in 10.1 i' v 0116 Of the ada ntag esfofthe furnace conmay be 'used'geither withigaslas; av fuelfor' with oil, the change; 'froml' one 'fuelf to ;the

rectlyunder`` the Vertical fiues or combustion chambers 44, 44'.v Supposing` the furnace is equipped .for oil, if itisdeSired to change to'gas it is only? necessary to remove the oil burners and inake the slight changes shown in Figs. `10 and 11. i

Another advantage of' the furnace construction shown is that it` dispenses almost.:

i entirely with the use of arches and he'ncej e does away with the thrustsflincident to arch construction' The only arch is the ;roofv arch 68 and this is supported 011 thean'gle irons 69 (Fig. 5) which are carriedz-;bythe structural steel framenf Instead off'using``V brick work as indicatedjatj'ZO. 7 A similar construction is proyided for'the brick work 1 constituting the distributing fiues 51.

The design of the furnace is such that the truck and its load are'borne directly upon the foundation 26. No'stresses or pressures vare exerted against the furnace structure iso I is done by radiation.

nealed-or otherwise treated is pnshed into the furnace and the door lowered. 'ith the controlling valves for the regenerators in the .posltlon shown 111 Fig. S), fresh air enters.

ing Chamber 38. The air entering the space' '-H' is mixed with the fuel from the burners which are lighted on this side of the furnace and Combustion takes place. The space 44.' Constitutes a Combustion Chamber which extends the length of the heating Chamber 38. The draft Carries the {'lames from the combust-ion Chamber -ll' up to the roof G8 of the furnace, and the flames reverberate across the top of the Chamber under the arehed roof out of contact with the work on the hearth 29. The heating of the work There is practically no directimpingement of the fiame upon the articles annealed. The gases from the heating Chamber pass down through the fiue -l-l, as Seated. and thence go to theregeuerator 49, through fiue and thereafter through opening to the Stack 5G. In being drawn down through the vspace H by the stack draft some of the flanies and hot gases pass.

' through the openings 53 in the bridge walls +13, which tends to keep the heat close to the wojrk. 3

"VVhen the position of the valves 58, 58' is reversed thef'circi'ilation through the regenerajtorsfand through the 'furnace is reversed. The'f'resli' air is taken into regenerator +9 z Athrough the' opening 55, passes through the Checker work of the regenerator and becolnes i preheated thereb 1", enters the heating chamber through fiue -l-l where it i mixed with the fuel from the -burners on this side of the furnace, which are now firing, the burners on` the other side having been extingnished. The furnace gases now escape through fiue 44' and pass out the stack through the regenerator 19'. Flues 51 which open out of the lengthwise extending flues 50, 50' at intervals along` said fiues serve to distribute the air entering the heating Chamber. The amount of air admitted through the several tlues 51 may be Controlled by an adjustment 'made without departing from the prinCi-` ples ofgthe invention. Therefore, I do not wish 'to be understood as limiting` the invention .to theparticulars 'shown and described.

I Claim:

l. In a furnace of the Character described, lthe CV1nbinati -)n'with agheating Chamber, of regenerators all arranged at o ne end of said Chamber and on substantially the. same level therewith, and fiuesextending from said regenerators under .thffeheating Chamber and Communicating with-theysame at opposite sides of said Chamber. 4

111 a furnace of the. Character desCribed, the Combination with a heating Chamber. of regenerators arranged at one end of said Chamber and on substantially the Same level therewith, a door at the other end of said Chamber, fiues arranged below said Chamber on opposite sides thereof and Commnnieating with said regenerators, and distributing tlues between said first named flues and said Chamber.

3. In a furnace of the Character desc'ribed` the Combination with a heating Chamber, of regenerators arranged at one end of said Chamber and on substantially the same level therewith, a door at the other end of said Chamber. fiues extending from saidl regenerators along` and below opposite sides of said Chamber.l and distributing flues .leading substantially vertieally from said first named fiues to opposite sides of said Chamber.

4. In a furnace of the Character described, the Combination with a heating Chamber having a door at one end, of a pair of regenerators at the other end of the Chamber, bridge walls within the Chamber spaced from the sides thereof so as to Constitute Combustion spaces, a fiue extending from each regenerator under one of said Combustion spaces, and distributing fiues connecting said first named fiues with said spaces, respectively. 4

5. In a vfurnace of the Character deseribed, the Combination with a heating Chamber having a door at one end, of a pair of regenerators at the other end of the Chamber, bridge walls within the Chamber spaced from the sides thereof so as to Constitute combustion spaces, a fiue etending from each regenerator under one of said combustion spaces, distributing fiues Connecting said first named fiues with said spaces, respectively, and means for introducing fuel into the bottom of said Combustion spaces.

G. In a furnace of the Character ydescribed, the Combination With a heating Chamber formed With bridge walls spaced away from thetside Walls thereof so as 'to Constitute Combustion spaces, of a. pair of regenerators at one end of said Chamber, and fiues leading from said regenerators along the sides .of the furnace, fiues Connecting said first named fiues with said Combustion spaces,

and means for obtaining a uniform distribution of air through said connecting fiues.

7. In a furnace of the character described, the combination with a heating Chamber formed with bridge Walls spaced from the side Walls thereof constituting combustion spaces, of a pair of regenerators at one end of said Chamber, flues leading from the regenerators along the sides of'the furnace, pairs of converging distributing fiues leading from said first mentioned flues to said combustion spaces, and means for introducing fuel into said spaces at substantially the points of convergence 'of said distributing fiues. i

8. In a furnace of the Character described,

the combination with a heating Chamber, of

a pair of regenerators, flues connecting the regenerators With opposite sides of the heating Chamber, a casing arranged above the regenerators with which each communicate, a stackt supported 011 said casing, and a. v'alveelement movable in` said casing which in alternative positions places each regeneratorv alternately in communication with the atmosphere and the other in communication ivth the stack.- w

-QWIna v furnace of the Character described, the coi'nbination with a heating chamber open at one end, of a door which closes said open end, bridge walls in said Chamber spaed from the sides thereof to constitute combustion spaces', a pair ofvregenerators 'located-at the .end of the Chamber opposite :the 4door flues b low the chamberextending length of the heating chainber, said furnace ,i

being open at one end, a door closing the opening in the end of said furnace, regenerators located at the other end of the furnace substantially above said foundation, flues leading from said regenerators under said combustion spaces, distributing fiues leading substantially vert-ically from said first named 'fiues to said combustion spaces, means` for introducing fuel into said combustion spaces between the several distributing fiues, means for equalizing the flow of air through said distributing flues, and means for periodicallv reversing the circulation through said heating Chamber and regenerator.

ARTHUR L. s'rEVENs.

, lVitnesses: i

L. A. FLKENBERU, R. C. THoREsoN.

to lfor fiv cents each, by. addressing the Commissioneriof Patents, v Washingtom 10.0.?? 

